Getting the Body I Deserve

Week 6 Results

Monica — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 22:30:48 +0000

163.5 lbs which is up 1 lb. I’m shocked because it is only 1 pound!

My social calendar has had me eating and drinking up a storm since I’m moving out of state. I had two going away parties this weekend and my liver needs a break from all the drinking. I’m learning that ordering at a restaurant is easier to control than my friends buying me shots and drinks so I’m trying to do meals instead of cocktails.

I’ve also skipped most of my workouts since I have been packing and trying to get everything done. I’m hoping that I’m burning lots of calories packing!

With all the major life changes, I’m not expecting to lose weight in the next two weeks. I do hope to maintain and then get right back on track when I get back to MO.

Life Changes and Eating

Monica — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 06:59:52 +0000

I resigned from my job yesterday and am moving half way across the USA from California to Missouri. The move is good for me, I’m starting my own business and will be close to my family again.

That doesn’t mean it isn’t stressful and for me that usually means eating. However, I have been able to keep the stress eating under control. I’m learning to recognize when I’m truly hungry or when I just want to eat to fuel some other emotion. YAY!

I’m excited that I’m learning how to deal with stress without eating but I’m struggling with social eating. Since I’m moving so far away, all of my friends wants to grab a drink or coffee or dinner or lunch or some form of food! I’ve managed to do active things with some of them but for the most part, my saying goodbye has involved chowing down in some form. I make decent choices while eating out but it is still a killer to my diet because it is so frequent.

I’m not worrying about it too much since this is obviously a life-changing event that won’t happen every day. But I would like to learn how to handle so much social eating while still losing weight. Any suggestions?

Week 5 Results

Monica — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 07:01:14 +0000

I’m still hanging out at 162.5 so I didn’t lose any weight but I didn’t gain. Again, I’m not surprised. This week I did not follow the plan at all. I ate too much and worked out too little.

I’ve averaged 1 pound a week and I’m happy with that because I feel like I’m learning how to handle my life without turning to food. It feels good. I know I have a long way to go but I’m excited. I feel like I’m making permanent changes and that is really motivating. Also, my jeans are getting loose so that feels great!

Tip – Make Restaurant Choices Before Entering

Monica — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 21:22:07 +0000

Eating out is a part of life that usually conflicts with weight loss goals. However, it doesn’t have to as long as you still make good choices.

We’ve all heard the usual tips for eating at a restaurant: ask the waiter to remove the bread basket, ask for veggies instead of mashed potatoes, choose things that are grilled or baked, ask that the food be cooked the way you’d like, etc.

Those are all great tips but if you’re anything like me, the minute I walk into a restaurant my senses follow all the delicious smells right into the kitchen and my willpower takes a hike! So I’ve learned to do a little planning before I even step foot into the tempting smells.

Before you go to the restaurant, read the menu online and decide what you’re going to order. Almost every restaurant has a website with their menu online. Take 2 minutes to find it and decide what you’ll eat. If you do this when you’re not hungry, you’ll make better choices. Then when you arrive at the restaurant, your decision is made and temptation has a harder time creeping in.

That’s my tip. How do you handle eating out while trying to lose weight?

Resetting Expectations

Monica — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 01:41:30 +0000

Today I had to turn down a cookie three times before the person believed I really didn’t want it. THREE times. Normally, I would never turn down a cookie (my biggest weakness) so I understand why she kept asking.

The people around me are confused by my new eating habits. I can practically see their thoughts — Salad at lunch? Saying no to cookies? Cooking instead of ordering out? No, this can’t be our Monica.

Well, it isn’t their old Monica but it is the new one. I’ve reset my expectations of myself. I now expect more from myself and that includes turning down cookie offers. With persistance, eventually others will reset their expectations of me too. Hopefully sooner than later.

Week 4 Results

Monica — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 23:25:01 +0000

Down 1 lb to 162.5 pounds. Yay-ish. To be honest, I’m slightly disappointed because I didn’t do the work to lose more. This week, I missed all 3 of my yoga workouts which is why I didn’t lose the other half a pound. But this it the real world so I’m happy with one pound and being headed in the right direction.

Week 5 will be the same drill. 9900 calories, 3 yoga workouts, 3 trainer workouts, and 3 5K run training workouts. I have yet to actually do all of those in one week but I’m hopeful that I’ll make it this week.

Suprising Things I’m Doing More

Monica — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 01:56:19 +0000

When this whole thing started, I fully expected to be doing more exercising and more cooking at home. What has surprised me is the other things I’m doing more.

Sleeping – all the working out makes me tired so I’m in bed early these days
Dishes – so much cooking has required me to do the dishes more
Laundry – this is almost double of what it was because of all my sweaty workout clothes
Reading – reading keeps my hands busy so I don’t reach for food
Peeing – the extra water has to go somewhere
Showering – when I work out twice a day, I shower twice a day

How about you? What are you doing more of while losing weight that isn’t obvious?

Week 3 Results

Monica — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 17:48:09 +0000

I gained 1/2 a pound this week putting me at 163.5 lbs. Grrrrrr.

I’m not surprised, it’s been a rough week. It started with me not feeling well and continued with many mental battles. Then, this weekend I ended up on a last minute road trip with some friends and my diet went a little out of control.

So, I understand it but that doesn’t mean I have to like it. It is time to refocus and make sure week 4 is better.

Tough Mental Week and Facing Fears

Monica — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 20:13:56 +0000

This week has been tough mentally, not physically. Sure, I’ve been sore but that is nothing compared to the fights in my head.

I keep hearing negative thoughts like this is hard and wasn’t I happier just relaxing on the couch eating anything I want? This voice pipes up a lot when my training gets a tough or I am craving sugar. It starts whining, telling me that it is ok to quit.

Why is my mind is resisting change that is good for me? I looked up several reasons why people resist change and it seems to boil down to one reason, fear of the unknown.

Interesting. So this is why things get so hard in week 3. You’re succeeding and the fear sets in.

There is the fear of who you’re becoming. You don’t know this person, a being that enjoys exercise and eats healthy. Who is she? What does he do for fun? How will people react to this new person?

There is the fear of living without excuses. You can no longer use being overweight as an excuse for why your crush isn’t into you or why you didn’t get promoted or anything else. Then you must face the questions, if it isn’t the weight, what is it? What is wrong with me?

It looks like there is just as much mental work to do as physical work. I’m sure you have your own personal fears that must be confronted. And confront them you must, as must I.

Seriously Pigged Out

Monica — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 17:34:07 +0000

Yesterday I ate anything I wanted. Seriously. I had 4 slices of pizza for lunch, fried sushi at dinner and triple chocolate mousse cake for dessert. I was feeling so bad and I wanted to make sure that I was eating enough and went a little overboard.

And you know what? I still don’t feel good. I still have headaches and am exhausted. Grrrr…..